Magnetic shaker



June 11, 1957 I H. c. BURTON EI'AL I v 2,795,357

MAGNETIC SHAKER Filed May '26, 1955 INVENTORS gg 6: BURTON MAGNETIC SHAKER Harry C. Burton and Harley L. Coggburn, Big Bear Lake, Calif.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,164

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-173) This invention relates to salt shakers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic salt and pepper shaker which, when placed against the side of a metal object would adhere thereto by magnetism without falling, without slippage or sliding off.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic salt and pepper shaker of the above type which will adhere to any metallic supporting surface with suflicient magnetism to compensate for the weight of the shaker when filled.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a magnetic salt and pepper shaker bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to manufacture and etficient 1n use.

For other objects and a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2. is a front elevational view thereof shown partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the shaker in operative position against the side of the metal object; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, indicates a conventional salt and pepper shaker of glass or other suitable material having the usual screw top metallic member 11 provided with the perforations 12, all in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In the practice of my invention, one of the sides 13 of the container 10 is provided with a recessed portion 14 having the dovetailed sides 15 extending outwardly therefrom at substantially 45 degree angles.

A correspondingly shaped plate 16 of permanently magnetized soft iron is provided and is adapted to fit upwardly within a recessed portion 14, having the correspondingly shaped vertical edges 17 which are received within the sides 15 of the recessed portion, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent the downward displacement of the plate 16, relative to the container 10 upon expansion of the latter, the plate 16 is provided at its lower end with an opening 18 therethrough which is aligned with a corresponding internally threaded opening 19 provided at the bottom of the container within the recessed portion 15. A screw 20 is screwed through the opening 18 and into the internally threaded bore 19 in the container whereby to retain the plate therewithin.

In operation, as shown in Fig. 4, the permanent magnets 16 will cause the shaker to adhere to the metallic object 21 or supporting surface whereby to prevent spillage of the salt and slippage of the salt shaker when the latter is not in use.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, there is shown a modified form of the present invention wherein the container 10a is now provided with a plurality of recessed portions 14a which receive therewithin a plurality of permanent magnets 16a of corresponding shape and dovetailed relationship.

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 through 4, and like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the several views.

The shakers may be manufactured of any size and shape desired. The plate 16 fits flush against the back side of the shaker with the lower edge flush with the bottom wall of the container portion.

It should be distinctly understood that our invention is applicable to any type of conventional condiment shakers, wherein said shakers may be provided with other means for filling and dispensing the condiment instead of the conventional perforated screw cap as illustrated in the drawings.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of our invention, what is claimed is:

A magnetic salt and pepper shaker comprising a container member, means for filling and dispensing the condiment from said shaker, said container having a plurality of fiat substantially vertical walls, at least one of said walls having a vertical recessed portion extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, the vertical sides of said recessed portion being of dovetail configuration, a permanent magnet of substantially identical shape as said recessed portion and having vertical edges correspondingly shaped and adapted to slide into engagement with said vertical sides of said recessed portion being removably disposed in mating dovetail relationship therewith, said magnet being selectively slidable longitudinally within said recess, and means for releasably maintaining said magnet within said recessed portion comprising a transverse bore and a screw rotatably received within said bore threadingly engaged with said container member, the sides of said recessed portion .and said magnet converging upwardly and the outer surface of said magnet lying in substantially the same plane as the adjacent side of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 425,768 Ezell Apr. 15, 1890 1,641,880 Cohen Sept. 6, 1927 2,217,514 Henry Oct. 8, 1940 2,452,400 Stevens Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 604,646 Great Britain July 7, 1948 

